- UNODC warns of a 40% increase in drug users among African youth by 2030 without urgent preventive measures
- Campisi emphasizes the need for evidence-based prevention programs, highlighting successful initiatives like the UNPLUGGED program in Nigerian schools
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has warned that Nigeria and several African countries may see a 40% increase in drug users, particularly among the youth, if urgent measures are not implemented. During a press conference in Abuja, the UNODC Country Deputy Representative, Mr. Danilo Campisi, made this alarming prediction. The event began a week-long celebration of the 2024 International Day Against Drugs and Illicit Trafficking, organized by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in collaboration with other stakeholders like the UNODC.
Mr. Campisi stressed the necessity for all levels of government and stakeholders in Nigeria to invest in preventive measures to avert this projected rise in drug use. “Projections show that by 2030, there will be a 40% increase in the use of drugs in Africa, based on the population of young people. This is extremely concerning if we consider that 2030 is only six years away,” he stated.
Highlighting the urgency of the situation, Campisi reiterated the importance of the adage “prevention is better than cure” and urged significant investments in drug use prevention measures. He described the situation as a national emergency and called for adopting scientific, evidence-based approaches prioritizing prevention and treatment.
UNODC has collaborated with the Nigerian government to implement various evidence-based prevention measures. One such initiative is the successful UNPLUGGED school-based drug prevention program. Thanks to the initiatives of their state governments, this program has been implemented in 110 Unity Schools across the country and in several states, including Kebbi, Bayelsa, and recently Kaduna.
The UNODC’s call to action emphasizes the critical need for a proactive and coordinated response to address the looming threat of increased drug abuse among Africa’s youth.